Integrated upright header transport for an agricultural combine

Abstract

An integrated transport system for an agricultural harvesting header that pivotable rotates the agricultural harvesting header from a working position to a transport position allowing the agricultural harvesting header to be transported in a substantially vertical position. The agricultural harvesting header includes at least one actuator to pivotable move the agricultural harvesting header from the working position to the transport position and at least one transport wheel. The agricultural harvesting header may be further provided with gauge wheels being repositionable for use as a the at least one transport wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An integrated transport arrangement for an agricultural harvesting header, comprising:
 a main header frame having at least one main header frame member vertically extending along a rear side of the main frame header, at least one main header beam horizontally extending along the rear side of the main header frame, and a cylinder pivot point formed on the main header frame; 
 a lower mount bar extending substantially parallel to the at least one main header frame member; 
 a plurality of transport wheels attaching to at least one side of the main header frame and configured to engage a ground surface when the main header frame is at a transport height in a transport position; 
 at least one fore/aft pivot frame member having a top end forming at least one main header frame pivot point and a bottom end pivotably attaching to the lower mount bar, the at least one main header frame pivot point forming a pivot axis substantially parallel to the at least one main header beam, the main header frame being configured to move between a working position and the transport position about the pivot axis; and 
 at least one fore/aft actuator with a first end attaching to the cylinder pivot point and a second end attaching pivotably to the lower mount bar, the at least one fore/aft actuator configured to pivot the main header frame about the pivot axis in such a manner that the main header frame is rotated between the working position and the transport position, and vice-versa. 
 
     
     
       2. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is configured to align the rear surface of the main header frame with the ground surface to form an angle of less than 45° when the main header frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
       3. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is configured to align the rear surface of the main header frame with the ground surface to form an angle of less than 30° when the main header frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
       4. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is configured to align the rear surface of the main header frame with the ground surface to form an angle of approximately 15° when the main header frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
       5. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is attached to the at least one fore/aft pivot frame member. 
     
     
       6. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder pivot point is attached to the main header frame. 
     
     
       7. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder pivot point is formed on the at least one main header frame member. 
     
     
       8. The integrated transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder pivot point is formed on the at least one main header beam. 
     
     
       9. The transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transport wheels are removably attached to the main header frame. 
     
     
       10. The transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transport wheels are permanently attached to the main header frame. 
     
     
       11. The transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fore/aft actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       12. The transport arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one gauge wheel is configured to be used as at least one of the plurality of transport wheels. 
     
     
       13. A method for transporting an agricultural harvesting header, comprising:
 providing a main header frame having at least one main header frame member vertically extending along a rear side of the main frame header, at least one main header beam horizontally extending along the rear side of the main header frame, and a cylinder pivot point formed on the main header frame, a lower mount bar extending substantially parallel to the at least one main header frame member, a plurality of transport wheels attaching to at least one side of the main header frame and configured to engage a ground surface when the main header frame is at a transport height in a transport position, at least one fore/aft pivot frame member having a top end forming at least one main header frame pivot point and a bottom end pivotably attaching to the lower mount bar, the at least one main header frame pivot point forming a pivot axis substantially parallel to the at least one main header beam, the main header frame being configured to move between a working position and the transport position about the pivot axis, and at least one fore/aft actuator with a first end attaching to the cylinder pivot point and a second end attaching pivotably to the lower mount bar, the at least one fore/aft actuator configured to pivot the main header frame about the pivot axis in such a manner that the main header frame is rotated between the working position and the transport position; 
 raising the agricultural harvesting header to a first position; 
 extending the at least one fore/aft actuator for moving the agricultural harvesting header to an upright position; 
 deploying the plurality of transport wheels to the transport position; 
 lowering the agricultural harvesting header to a second position; and 
 retracting the at least one fore/aft actuator for moving the agricultural harvesting header to the working position. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is configured to align the rear surface of the main header frame with the ground surface to form an angle of less than 45° when the main header frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is configured to align the rear surface of the main header frame with the ground surface to form an angle of less than 30° when the main header frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is configured to align the rear surface of the main header frame with the ground surface to form an angle of approximately 15° when the main header frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one main header frame pivot point is attached to the at least one fore/aft pivot frame member. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cylinder pivot point is attached to the main header frame. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cylinder pivot point is formed on the at least one main header frame member. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cylinder pivot point is formed on the at least one main header beam.